CHAMPCAR/CART: PacWest Road America raceday notes and quotes

Motorola 220
Sunday, August 19, 2001
SCOTT DIXON - ...

Motorola 220
Sunday, August 19, 2001

SCOTT DIXON - # 18 POWERWARE PANASONIC PACWEST TOYOTA

Starting position: 3rd Finishing position: 4th Laps: 45

"What a strange race," said Dixon. "After my first stop on lap ten, when
we put on slicks, I came back out and got together with Andretti. My
front right toe-link was bent and I needed to have it fixed or my day
was in trouble. When we came in, we couldn't fix it before going a lap
down so we went back out and came in one lap later. We got that fixed
and fell to the back of the pack before the race was red-flagged. After
we got started again, Memo had a big crash and some debris came off of
his car and hit me on my helmet. I believe that same piece of debris
hit my rear wing and ripped it off my car. We came into the pits 4-5
times just to get a new wing put on, but my crew did an unbelievable job
keeping me on the lead lap. Every time we came in for more repair, we
topped off fuel so I knew we could race the rest of the way. When the
leaders started pitting, we gained some valuable spots, and came away
with fourth. This result was possible because my crew is so good, so
this one goes to them."

MAURICIO GUGELMIN - # 17 NEXTEL PACWEST TOYOTA

Starting position: 15th Finishing position: 23rd Laps: 9

"99 percent of the track was fine, but there was a river running across
the track right after the kink," said Gugelmin. "CART never should have
started this race with the conditions the way they were. Red-flagging
this thing was the right decision, but that doesn't help me, or any of
the other guys who crashed in this mess. On wet tires, everything was
all right, but we had to switch to slicks because most of the track was
dry. As soon as I came out of the kink I saw the water, backed off the
throttle and straightened my car. Once I hit the water, it was like
driving on glass or riding on a skateboard. I hydroplaned and went into
a slide and connected with the wall in turn 11. These are racecars, not
power boats. The whole thing was ridiculous."